Head-rest for burial-caskets.



APPLIUATION FILED MAB.. 19, 1909.

Patented May 17, 1910.

iNvENToR BRESSE STEVNS WITNES ES:

ATTORNEYS BREESE STEVENS,` OF NEW HARTFORD, NEW YORK.

HEAD-REST FOR BURIAL-CASKETS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led March 1B, 1999.

Patented Mayi?, 1910.

Serial No. 484,350. i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BREESE STEVENS, of New I-Iartford, in the county of Oneida and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in I-Iead- Rests for Burial-Gaskets; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an adjustable head rest for burial caskets, which is simple, readily applied, and well adapted to meet the requirements of such a device.

Figure l shows a plan view of the head end of a casket with the head rest in position therein. Fig. 2 shows on an enlarged scale a longitudinal sectional view of the head end of a casket with the near wall removed and the head rest in elevated position. F ig. 3 shows a cross sectional view of the casket close to the head end, showing the head rest and prop in elevated position. Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the casket with the head rest shown in elevated position in perspective looking toward the head end. Fig. 5 is a detailed view showing a hinging bar employed in the construction.

The head rest consists of a thin board 10 having secured along its lower edge a hinge bar 11, so that the board 10 will turn on the hinge bar, and the board is secured to the bar preferably by straps as 12 passed around the edge of the board and the strap glued or cemented to each side. At each end the hinge bar 1l is provided with points or spurs 11EL adapted to be driven into the bottom A. of the casket. A prop 14 is provided hinged at 15 to the underside of the board 10. This prop consists preferably of an elongated piece of board or plate having a set of spurs or points 14a along its lower edge adapted to engage in the bottom A of the casket. At the hinge 15, comprising the rod 15a on which the prop is pivotally mounted there is provided a spring 16 coiled around the hinge bar 15a and having. one end 16st bearing against the prop 14: and the other end 161 bearing against the underside of the board 10 toward its swinging end and tensioned to throw the prop 1li into the folded position indicated by 17 against the underside of the board 10 toward the hinge bar 11. In order to have control of the prop 14 there is provided a cord 18 secured to the -prop adjacent to its swinging edge and attached to the swinging end of the board 10 at 19. A padding as 20 may be carried over the upper face of the head rest. The head rest is designed and adapted to be used as follows: It is suitably placed on the bottom of a casket and secured by driving the points or spurs 11a into the bottom of the casket. The swinging end of the prop 14 will be folded back toward the swinging end of the board l0, in which position the rest will lie parallel with the bottom of the casket or substantially so. The swinging end of the head rest when required to be brought into use -may be elevated more or less as required, and as elevated the spring 16 operates to swing the prop 14 into its operative position. The spurs 14a will engage in the bottom and secure the head rest at any desired angle within certain limits. Then it is desired to lower the head rest, it will first preferably be eleva-ted sufficiently to let the prop 1li swing free, when it will be instantly closed against the board 10 in the position indicated by 17, and the head rest can be lowered into its normal horizontal position. Pads will preferably be provided where the prop strikes the head rest board to deaden any noise that might otherwise be made. In case of any accident or failure to manipulate the device as above pointed out, the operator can again secure control of the prop by raising the swinging end of the head rest and drawing the prop back by means of the cord 18. Ordinarily the cover of a casket can be applied only when the head rest is in its lower position.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a head rest for burial caskets the combination with a head board of means for hinging one edge of the board to the casket bottom, a prop hinged to the underside of the head board, a spring for throwing the prop into folded position, and a cord forl operating the prop against the tension of the spring, substantially as set forth.

2. In a head rest for burial caskets the combination with a head board of means including a rod for hinging one edge of the board to the casket bottom said rod having In witness whereof, I have affixed my sigspurs for driving into the bottom of the nature, in presence of two witnesses, this casket, a prop hinged to, the underside of v17th day of March, 1909,.

the head board, a spring for throwing the B'REESE STEVENS. .5 prop into folding position and a cord for i Witnesses:

operating the prop against the tension of EMMA S. HEssE,

the spring, substantially as set forth. SARAH E. CLARK. 

